Hydrangea plant named ‘Saxreb11’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Saxreb11’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong stems; and large mophead-type inflorescences with dark pink-colored sterile flowers that with aluminum sulfate treatment become bright blue in color.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SAXREB11’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Saxreb11’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new container-type Hydrangea plants withstrong stems, early flowering response and attractive leaf, stem andflower coloration.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2006 oftwo unidentified proprietary selections of Hydrangea macrophylla, notpatented. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by theInventor in 2008 as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings inDresden, Germany since June, 2008 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Saxreb11’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Saxreb11’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong stems.    -   4. Large mophead-type inflorescences with dark pink-colored        sterile flowers that with aluminum sulfate treatment become        bright blue in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are morecompact than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Horath’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,291. Plants ofthe new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Horath’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Horath’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Horath’ differ in leaf color        and luster.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Horath’ differ slightly in        sterile flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Saxreb11’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Saxreb11’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Saxreb11’ from a plant that was treated with aluminumsulfate.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown in 3-liter containers in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under cultural conditions typical ofcommercial Hydrangea production conditions. Plants of the new Hydrangeawere two years old when the photographs and description were taken.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. Some ofthe plants were treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” theinflorescences (hereinafter referred to as “blued” plants) and some ofthe plants were not treated with aluminum sulfate (hereinafter referredto as non-“blued” plants). In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Saxreb11’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 29 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 31 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial subshrub; upright and            mounded plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; freely            branching habit with about 16 lateral branches developing            per plant; strong lateral branches; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 34 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 53.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18.9 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 4.2 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from vertical.            Color, developing: Close to 143B to 143C slightly tinged            with close to N186C at the nodes. Color, developed: Close to            199B to 199C. Lenticels: Density: Sparse. Length: About            2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Close to N186C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 13.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous; slightly            rugose.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker            than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between            N137A and 147A; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close 147B; venation, close            to 144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence & flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single sterile and inconspicuous            fertile flowers arranged on terminal mophead-type panicles;            panicles flattened globular in overall shape; fertile            flowers face mostly upright and sterile flowers face upright            to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late            spring to late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—Flowers last about one            week on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—Flowers last about six            weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering; about 90 fertile            flowers and about 350 sterile flowers per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 11.1 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 18.4 cm.        -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 8 mm.        -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color, “blued” flowers: Close to            96D and 97B. Color, non-“blued” flowers: Close to 62B.        -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 145D.        -   Petals, fertile flowers only.—Quantity and arrangement: Five            in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, “blued” plants: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 100B to 100C. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 97B to 97C. Color,            non-“blued” plants: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to N66C. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 64D.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.1 mm.            Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B            to 145C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            145B to 145C.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or            five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About            2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly rhomboidal to broadly ovate. Apex:            Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            “blued” plants: When opening, upper surface: Close to 100C;            towards the base, close to 100D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 100D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to between 97A and 100C; with development, color becoming            closer to 97A strongly tinged with close to N88B to N88C.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 97B; with development,            color becoming closer to 97B strongly tinged with close to            N88D. Color, non-“blued” plants: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 68B. When opening, lower surface: Close to            65A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 63B; towards the            base, close to 64D; with development, color becoming closer            to 64D strongly tined with close to 143B to 143C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 65A; with development, color            becoming closer to 64D strongly tined with close to 143A.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Angle: About 20° from vertical.            Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, “blued”            plants: Close to 98C. Color, non-“blued” plants: Close to            70C.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Angle: About 30° from lateral            branch. Strength: Strong. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:            About 1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, “blued”            plants: Close to 98B. Color, non-“blued” plants: Close to            64D and marbled with close to 63B.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only.—Stamens: Quantity            per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 3 mm.            Filament color: Close to 73B. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.            Anther shape: Broadly reniform. Anther color: Close to 185D.            Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close to            156D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: About two. Pistil            length: About 2.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma            color: Close to N155B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style            color: Close to 65A to 65B. Ovary color: Close to 157D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hydrangea to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Saxreb11’ asillustrated and described.